Golden Archers

Time for more Golden Boys!  This one was painted in the same manner as the other Galadhrim Cavalry figure.  As before, glazing and tinting after the Shaded Basecoat was the key.

This meant mixing glaze colors such as Secret Weapon Sunshine glaze with purple, and even the Vallejo fluorescent paints!

Let's not forget the 'reflections'.  These cooler areas of the metals were tinted with a mix of yellow glaze color with a grey or green.  Surprisingly, there are many hints of green to be found in gold colors.  Just a bit though... for effect.  Too much, and it might appear more like brass!

Just like the last figure, the colors of the cloak and the horse both influenced my shading and provided that all important contrast.  These views really show the hints of red on the armor plates!

Here's some views of the figure I used for the how to paint gold NMM video, and a few scenes:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2013/08/raging-brunhilde.html

The Painting Golds video is available directly from me, and from Kings Hobbies and Games:

http://www.kingshobbiesandgames.com/James-Wappel-s-Gold-Non-Metal-Metalics-p/jwppgold.htm

Here's an example of what the videos are like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_8Yo1Jt9Xc

On the hoof

More fun with golds!

One key strategy I try to remember when I am working on golds is to mix in a bit of the yellow Vallejo fluorescent paint.  Not only do I include it in "lighter" shades such as the highlights, but I will mix it in with my shadow colors too.

This means mixing it in with one of my favorite gold shadow colors, which is purple.  That's a very natural shade to gold.  I also had to be aware of what was around the gold armor, such as the cloak.  As a result, I tried to sneak in a little red into my mixes.

A small amount of grey/green is also important, since using only various shades of yellow will make it appear more like yellow painted strips instead of shinier metal.

I think these views give a hint of how the colors transition depending on the shape an position.  Light to dark shading, with the darkest shadow typically nearest the bright highlights also lend a hand in getting that shiny appearance.

Many of these strategies are discussed in my Painting Golds video, part of the massive Painting Pyramid series of instructional videos.  I paint a Raging Heroes horse and rider, in some ways very similar to this.

As another side note, making the horse a neutral gray (tinted a bit towards the cool side) helped to make the warmer colors of the armor seem even more intense.  The added impetus of the fluorescent paints sealed the deal!

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/322074003248?

Sticks and Stones...

Well, Adepticon 2016 has come and gone.  It all started Wednesday morning with squeezing a semi trailer worth of minis, terrain, lights and tools into a Kia Soul.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Hobby Lounge (heretofore to be referred to as Fort Wappel) was in full swing.  It was a fantastic mix of painters and players.  More than a few intrepid tournament players stayed with me late into the night on Wednesday and Thursday painting their armies, while others put last minute touches on their contest entries.

It was fantastic to hang out with Sabrina and Mark, Syndjinn, Michelle, and so many more!

If the convention was five days longer, I might have been able to see half of what there was to see!  I never even made it to the Bolt Action or Flames of War areas.  Perhaps next time.

Since I normally slave away at the painting table in isolation seven days a week, having other human painters nearby was a rare and wonderful experience!  I enjoyed that so much, it was with regret that I had to take significant time away on Friday and Saturday to meet other obligations, which were also very fun!.

Doing a few quick demos in the Secret Weapon booth was a blast, talking Counterblast minis with Patrick was great, and hanging out in the Reaper and Mantic booths was also very fun.  Congrats to Cory on another great showing of Witchborn, and to the many groups which put on fantastic displays, such as the pirate game.

The Stuff of Legends Oldhammer game was a fun throwback, and a shout out to all the instructors and painters who competed in the contest.

A huge shout out to the whole staff of Adepticon for helping get the Hobby Area together, and it was a stunning effort by Drew to make the seminars and such a reality.

This post would have to go on for a very long time to include everyone.  I want to say thanks to every single person that came around to chat, no matter how long or how rushed.  It means a lot, and it will be the energy for all the long painting nights ahead.

Forest Pals

This Galadhrim elf has a little buddy with him.  I think it's a bit from the GW Dryad sprue.  I think I might have to try to find more of those bits, because nearly all of my LOTR elves had some sort of Dryad bit on the base.

It was long before I had the bark and branch method, however!  Still, it would be neat to have some of the forest sprites to mess around with.

The basing was definitely more simply done on these figures, as time was a major issue.

I was trying to get them all done for the Bilbo's Bash tournament, which was achieved!

Orcs are my pin cushions

The Galadhrim archer figures had a more 'open' stance than most of the spear and swordsmen, so it presented an opportunity to have more fun with the leafy armor design.

While a lot of greenish hues would be needed on the golds, I did want to reflect some of the reds and oranges as well.

The open cloaks meant that I could show enough of that orange color to justify such reflections.

As I say over and over again, it is the reflections and reflected light that are essential to have NMM look the least bit realistic.

The sculpting and casting of the Lord of the Rings figures was not always the greatest, particularly in the early days.  Nevertheless, it was still very enjoyable to paint up the whole army, and get to use it many times!

I'm Staying Right Here!

 

I initially used this as one of my Captains in my Lord of the Rings Galadhrim army.  The base was sculpted with Apoxy Sculpt.

 

Eventually I used some Reaper elf figures to represent any command characters, as it was a lot easier to distinguish them in the inevitable scrums!

 

He was certainly one of the more dramatically posed Galadrhim elves... perfect for the Knights of the Blood Rose.

I see your point

Yes indeed, more Elves with pointy sticks!

As I have mentioned before, these spear toting elves were essential backup for the swordsmen in front of them.  I ended up spending a few extra points on most of them to give them shields, in case they ended up being too outnumbered to offer just that extra attack.

I didn't face too many horde armies, so that sort of outnumbering didn't really take place.

A horse of a different color

As I have mentioned before, I really enjoyed playing my Galadrhim cavalry.  They were fast, agile, and the high fight skill was just the trick to take advantage of more heavily armored Orcs and other baddies.

The basing for all the elves and the Easterlings was meant to reflect the terrain of the display board, which was called Fortress Falls.

 Here's a peek at the completed army board:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-battle-of-fortress-falls-minis-on.html

Leaf and Scale

The Swordsmen from the Galadhrim by themselves could be on the fragile side, but when backed up by spears, those additional attacks would force the issue against lower fight skill units.  Even with higher armor, losing fights again and again will put you in a bad spot!

I did spend a few extra points here and there to give the swordsmen shields, in the event that they would not have the pointy sticks behind them.

The katana shape of the blades made them interesting to paint.

The leafy pattern in the armor plates allowed for some interesting color reflections and contrasts!

Charge!!

Now for a peek at some of the Galadhrim cavalry.  They served me quite well, despite being very few in number.

Once I paired them up with Gwaihir, their effectiveness went through the roof.

Gwaihir would fly over the top of a line of orcs in order to remove any spear or pike bonuses that might be used against the cavalry charging from the front.

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/322023565787?